Another week, another second half meltdown for Elon University.
The Phoenix football team built a 17-0 lead on Wofford College Saturday, Oct. 12, but the host Terriers roared back to take a 31-27 win. Elon had an opportunity to take a win on the game's final play, but redshirt freshman running back B.J. Bennett was stopped on fourth and goal from inside the Wofford 2-yard line. The defensive stop capped off a second half in which Wofford outscored Elon 24-3.
Elon opened the scoring on the first drive of the game when junior quarterback Mike Quinn ran from 1-yard out to put the Phoenix on the board. The 10-play, 75-yard drive gave Elon a 7-0 lead. After the Phoenix forced a Wofford punt, freshman kicker John Gallagher made his second field goal of the year, a 33-yard try to push the lead to 10-0.
Wofford's next possession resulted in a fumble with 5:43 left in the first quarter, and Elon took advantage. Quinn hit sophomore wide receiver Andre Davis from 10 yards out, and the Elon lead hit 17-0.
The Terriers got on the board at the 3:20 mark of the second quarter when sophomore running back Jonny Martin scored on a 9-yard run to cut the deficit to 10.
Elon would respond on its next drive, a 12-yard touchdown pass from Quinn to junior tight end Doug Warrick with 38 seconds remaining before halftime. Elon's 24-7 halftime lead was short-lived. Martin scored his second touchdown of the day from five yards out at the 12:31 mark of the third quarter.
LAST TIME OUT: Elon wins first SoCon game
Following an Elon punt, Wofford senior kicker Kasey Redfern connected on a 27-yard field goal try to cut the lead down to seven points.
Elon drove the ball to the Wofford 43-yard line on its next possession, but was forced to punt once more. Freshman punter David Petroni pinned the Terriers at their own 11-yard line.
However, Wofford went on 19-play, 89-yard drive that took 7:14 off the clock and culminated in a 23-yard touchdown run from sophomore halfback Octavius Harden. Redfern's extra point tied the contest at 24, and Elon's lead was gone.
The two teams traded fruitless possessions before Gallagher knocked in his second field goal of the day, this one from 25 yards out and Elon took a 27-24 lead.
Elon's defense was a stop away from victory. Then junior quarterback James Lawson found sophomore halfback Will Gay for a 66-yard touchdown pass and Wofford took its first lead of the game at 31-27. Elon marched all the way down the field in the final minutes, but Bennett was just short and the Phoenix saw one get away.
Quinn finished the day 37 of 54 for 285 yards with no interceptions. Senior wide receiver Rasaun Rorie led Elon in receiving with nine catches for 80 yards. Bennett led the Phoenix in rushing with 20 carries for 49 yards.
Elon falls to 2-5, 1-2 in the Southern Conference with the loss. Wofford improves to 4-2, 3-0.
Elon returns home to face the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga next Saturday at 1:30 p.m. for Pink Day at Rhodes Stadium.